Lap table



W. G. RICH LAP TABLE 7 Sept. 15, 1936.

Filed April 10, 1955 I I INVENTOR. mfl/bz W flww ca/W ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention has for its object to provide a small table adapted to be used in a person's lap for supporting a book or other reading matter in a convenient manner either in, an inclined 8 plane or horizontally. The table with its supports is of such size that it readily adapts itself for use by a person seated in a chair or in a recumbent position in a bed.

The principal feature of my invention resides in the arrangement of the leg portions or supports for the table top which are of novel design to accomplish the object stated and permit the table top to be held in either of the positions stated according to the nature of the work which the user may desire to do.

The supports for the table are in the form of folding brackets and in connection therewith I have also devised a novel form of latch which serves to hold them in their extended positions which is capable of being released by pressure applied in returning the brackets to their folded or collapsed position.

To these and other ends my invention comprises further improvements and arrangements of parts as will be described in the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In the drawing: 0

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table illustrat- 30 ing one embodiment of my invention; the'table top being shown supported in an inclined position.

Fig. 2 is an end view, the table top supported in a horizontal position.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the supporting a5 brackets in folded position.

Fig. 4 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are central partial longitudinal sectional views showing the action of the spring 40 lock in its normal and releasing positions, respectively.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similar parts.

In carrying out my invention I provide a table 45 top I of any convenient size, preferably one about 18 inches long and 12 inches wide and mount upon its underside brackets 2 and 3 which form the supporting legs. The main feature in the construction of the brackets is the shape of their 50 lower edges whereby I provide for supporting the table in either a horizontal position or inclined as the user may elect. In reality the brackets each provide three legs or points of support two of which, 4 and 5, are of equal length and one, 6,

which is preferably shorter and is located laterally and in the plane of the others and cooperates with one of them when the table top is tilted to bring the leg 6 into use. This leg may be of the same length as the others and still cause the top to be inclined, but in practice I find that an 6 angle of about for the top affords the greatest comfort to the user and to accomplish this without unduly increasing the distance between the legs, or bearing points 5 and 6, it is desirable to shorten the latter.

In practice I make the supports or brackets in the form of panels from which much of the material may be removed, as shown, to lessen the weight as well as to improve the appearance. These transverse dimensions and the distance 15 they are separated is such that they will fit on the sides of a chair seat and between the arms of a chair. The brackets are pivoted to the bottom face of the table top by hinges, as indicated by 1, positioned so that they may be turned down 20 flatwise as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To maintain their parallelism when folded, I provide reinforcing strips 8 and 9, the former being arranged on the outside and the latter on the inside of the brackets 2 and 3. The brackets are made of 25 comparatively thin stock, preferably three ply veneer and the reinforcing strips provide the ad- 'ditional thickness in this material desired to receive the screws by which the hinges are attached and provide an increased bearing surface 30 for the supports when in the open or operative position. If desired the upper thickened ends of the brackets may be beveled slightly so that the table legs when opened will flare. apart slightly.

The supports or brackets may be made of any 36 suitable material. When made of ply-wood, the greater part of the material may be cut out in such manner as to create various ornamental patterns, at the same time lightening the structure.

As shown in Fig. 3, by providing openings in the 40 brackets at the point where they overhang the edge of the. table top, the folded legs serve as handles by which the device may be carried. The

brackets may also be readily constructed from metal strip bent to the proper configuration to function in the manner described.

It is desirable tolock the supporting brackets in the open or extended position and any convenient form of latch may be employed, but in exploiting the device commercially, I have devised a simple and novel form of lock. On the outer side of each bracket on the part comprising the connection between the legs 4' and 5, is fastened a plate In having a tongue II which cooperates with a spring finger l2 fastened to the 56 bottom of the top I. The tongue ll may extend through an aperture in the finger l2, as shown in Fig. 5, or the finger may be provided with a hookshaped end l3 engaging the outer face of the plate ID, as shown in Fig. 6, in which event the hook is slotted so that the finger will engage the inner side 01' the tongue to exertsufiicient pressure thereon to hold the leg in its operative posi-.

tion. The tongue H is beveled outwardly slightly and acts, by reason of the spring action in the finger I! to cause the outer end of the finger to rise when sufilcient pressure is applied to the table leg, or panel, to automatically release it without the necessity of raising the spring finger by hand. This is a desirable feature as a permanent or rigid lock would require the use of two hands to release and fold each leg whereas this operation may by means of the instrumentality I have provided be performed by moving both legs inwardly simultaneously.

I claim:

1. The combination with a table top, of supporting brackets secured in spaced relation on the underside of the top forming supporting legs,

said brackets having their bottom edges shaped to provide a set of supports parallel with the top and a set of supports at an angle thereto.

2. The combination with a table top, of two brackets thereon, each having three points of contact for engaging a supporting surface, two of said points being located in a plane parallel to the top and at a given distance therefrom, the I remaining point being disposed laterally of the others and at a lesser distance from said top.

8. The combination with a table top, of two bracket leaves hinged to its lower side forming legs for supporting the top in a horizontal position, said brackets having lateral extensions forming other legs for supporting the top at an angle to a horizontal plane.

4. The combination with a table top, of two bracket ,leaves foldable against its underside in overlapping position having their lower edges arranged, when the leaves are in extended position, to support the top horizontally, said brackets having at one side lateral extensions projecting beyond one edge of the top when the brackets are folded and serving when they are extended to support said top at an angle to a horizontal plane.

5. 'I'heeombination with a table top, of two bracket leaves foldable against its underside in overlapping position having their lower edges arranged, when the'leaves are in extended position, to support the top horizontally, said brackets having at one side lateral extensions provided with cut out portions and projecting beyond one edge of the top to form a handle when the brackets are folded and acting when the brackets are in extended position to support said top at an angle to a horizontal plane.

WILLARD G. RICH. 

